How to Swap Models

[Matt]

How To Swap Models
by xevan90x

In this guide I will show you how to:
1)extract models from WoW
2)how to swap them from something else
3)how to use it for your advantage.

1) Extracting Models from WoW

Most models that you will use with be the .m2 files. There are 3 types of model files in WoW, .wmo, .blp, and .m2.

First, get MyWarcraftStudio. Although it doesn't have good previews, it extracts the best (maybe the only). Download here: http://www.curse-gaming.com/en/wow/a...aftstudio.html

After you extract and such open it up. Here's where the fun starts.

Click open, locate to Program Files\World of Warcraft\Data and open Model.mpq


For an example, we will change the chicken model into something CrAzY (like Ragnaros.)

Find where the chicken would be located, use your common sense. But for now, I will tell you, it's in Creature\chicken:


Right click the chicken.m2 file (after you already previewed it, so the model shows as a preview), and click copy treepath:


Now open a notepad file and paste the treepath into it for safe keeping.

Go back into MyWarcraftStudio, and find what you want to change the chicken to. I chose Ragnaros (but you can choose ANY model that has the same extension!):


After previewing him, right click on the Ragnaros.m2 and click Extract File:


Extract it to any place, like your desktop. Now, rename it to what you wanted to change it from, in this case, chicken.m2.

Ok, now go inside Program Files\World of Warcraft\Data and open the notepad back up.

Create the folders that say where the chicken is, like, if the chicken model is inside Creature, then inside Data, make a folder named Creature. Then inside Creature, the chicken is in a folder called Chicken. So make a folder called chicken.

Next, the file on your desktop should be named chicken.m2, but it's actually ragnaros. Good. Put it in the Chicken folder you created.

Now, inside Data you should have Creature\Chicken\Chicken.m2.

Yay! You're done! Go in to WoW and find a chicken or take your pet chicken out! *Only you see it as ragnaros*

Ok now, to use this at youir advantage:

What's the only thing in game that you can spawn? A campfire.
What's the easiest to locate, biggest, walkable model? The Dark Portal.

Find the campfire model: model.mpq\World\Azeroth\Elwynn\Passivedoodads\Camp fire\ElwynnCampfire.m2

Find the Dark Portal model, ATM I forget where it's located but I think it's in: model.mpq\World\wmo\Outland\DarkPortal\DarkPortalA nim01.m2

Pic of the Dark Portal:

[Cypher]

Time to change my pet squirrel to Raggy!

Thanks matt.

[Shanaar]

Matt, in my MyWarcraftStudio, all the models are displayed as white models, rather than a textured model like yours. I was trying to change my character into a Demon Hunter, and I just have a Demonhunter sillhouette ingame, rather than a skinned one. I'm doing exactly what you are doing, except changing the Night Elf Male file to Demonhunter, rather than the chicken to Raggy. What am I doing wrong?

[Doctavicen]

Im having the same problem.

[jise]

mine are whire models too except my chickens just come out as chickens

[jacca]

if you do that too a Chicken arnt you gonna have Raganos by the coop?

im gonna try this out when i get back to my computer... ^^

Thx matt

[bloodofwar]

yea matt the white thing is happening to me too. please figure out hoow to fix this, im gonna check it out too

[Unholydude]

I read one of Matt's other posts on model swapping, and as confusing as it was I finally figured the rest out on my own.
First off, go download WinMPQ, it makes this much easier.

1. Open MyWarcraftStudio twice, in the first one create a new mpq file and name it speech2 [For some reason that's the only filename i can use to change models, dont know about anyone else] (Pack -> Create MPQ Archive) after that, minimize the window and leave it for now.

2. Now use the second Studio window you opened, go into your WoW folder -> Data -> Model.mpq This will give you all the models in plain white, find which model you want(if you want to change a chicken into Rag, find the Rag model) then extract it to another folder [I just used My Documents].

3. After you're done with that close the model.mpq, and open the texture.mpq, it's in the same folder as the models. Once again, find the creature you want to change into and extract all of the skins, some have more than one. Ok, now you're doen with that studio window and can close it.

4. open the first Studio window again, and go to Pack -> Add file to archive Go find the files that you extracted (both model and textures) and put them in the mpq file you created. Now go ahead and close Studio

5. Now is where WinMPQ becomes handy open two windows, just like the Studio, make one of them the mpq you created and the other go open the model.mpq file from the WoW folder and open it. it's in alphabetical order, so scroll down to what you want to change (Again, if you're turning a chicken into Rag, this time go find the chicken model) and right click -> rename file, than just copy the name that's there, dont delete it or change the name. Now go back to the other window, the list of files in the mpq you created and paste the name over what you have there. (For instance if you copied *Creature\Chicken\Chicken.m2* go paste it over the model for Rag *Creature\Ragnaros\Ragnaros.m2*)

6. Go do the same for textures, if it only has one texture that's fine. [I changed my druid cat form into Illidan, cat form has one texture, illidan has two] take the body texture and copy the name onto the file you want, make sure they match up [For mine I took the cat texture *Creature\DruidCat\DruidCatSkinBlack.blp* and copied onto the body texture for illidan, it's pretty easy to see, so hopefully you can figure it out]. For the second texture, if there is anohter, take the same name, but give it a 1 [Again *Creature\DruidCat\DruidCatSkinBlack.blp* for the main part, and the second named *Creature\DruidCat\DruidCatSkinBlack1.blp*]

7. Close WinMPQ, go find the mpq you made, and copy it to WoW folder -> data. make sure Studio and WinMPQ are off before you start WoW, because only one program can be using those files at a time (meaning only WoW or only the Studio can open them at a time).

Once again Matt posted this same way, but wasn't as clear, so any credit goes to him. Hope this helps you all.

Here's a pic to help explain a bit.
http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/549/winmpqpicnq2.jpg
If you need any extra help send me an e-mail at [email protected]

[LiquidShizzles]

This is cool. +rep. Maybe i can try changing myself to something cool....like raggy.........

[Saph]

yes very nice but how can i change models of items? when i open the model or texture.mpq there is no names for items like "ten storms right shoulder". so how can i change items models?

[Unholydude]

Go download the WoW model viewer, it lists the same names as Studio does, but has the texture so you can see what it is. Weapons and items are listed like Sword_2h_Broadsword_(w/e).blp

http://www.curse-gaming.com/en/wow/a...r-updated.html
Here's a link to the download page.

[barnyonfire1]

did blizz lock up model changing?

[jacca]

modles that you see and Touch are client side... and probably still working... so...probably not

[Zacharisjosepi]

heres a question, how do we make it so EVERYONE see's my tauren hunter on the raptor?

[idusy-org]

heres a question, how do we make it so EVERYONE see's my tauren hunter on the raptor?

Hack the server/Become a GM....